PATERSONS Stadium, formerly known as Subiaco Oval, will be an even safer venue for AFL players in 2011 after it is re-turfed for the first time in 15 years, according to the ground's management.
Rated the third best playing surface by the AFL Players' Association in 2010, it will be further improved in a major project that will cost the stadium between $600,000 and $700,000.
The entire playing surface has been laser leveled and new turf will be laid this week.
"The quality of the turf is exceptional," Patersons Stadium general manager Gavin Taylor said on Wednesday.
"The AFL have actually developed a series of standards in relation to the traction and hardness of the surface that they believe is best for all playing conditions [and] we ensure that we deliver the turf in line with those expectations.
"In 2010 we met all the AFL standards that were set, and by undertaking this we'll continue to meet those expectations and significantly improve.
"We expect that we'll be one of the premier playing surfaces throughout Australia."
The 20,000 square-metre surface will be completely re-turfed within six days, with a further week set aside to allow it to knit and grow.
Taylor said the AFL would then test the surface, with West Coast and Fremantle possibly training on the ground by the end of January.
The venue will be ready to host the NAB Cup clashes between Fremantle, West Coast and Hawthorn on February 13.
WA's home of football, which was rebranded for the first time in its 102-year history last October, hosted a series of concerts through December.
Taylor said large-scale concerts by U2 and Bon Jovi were partly funding the project and similar events would go ahead in the future.
"The concerts obviously have a significant impact on the lawn," he said.
"As part of our concerts we budget for the replacement of the turf that's affected by that.
"Due to the size and the scope of the concerts that came through in December, I guess we made a decision that it was the right time to replace all of the turf at the stadium.
"The quality and presentation of the turf will be significantly improved."